KENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY  -- RESEARCH    Studying and sharing Kent's past      Homepage

Medieval & Tudor Kent Wills at Lambeth - Book 23  Page 254

John BEREHAM ?,  Will 1442

Return to Book 23 Contents Page      Return to Lambeth Wills Index Page

JOHN (BEREHAM?) of Cranbrook. 18 May 20 Henry VI (1442). (Note the surname of the Testator is not given in the Register a blank being left in each case. As the manor of Saxinghurst was held at the time by the Bereham family, whose arms are, with others, on the church tower, it may be assumed with very little doubt that his name was John Bereham).
It is testified by the present writing indented made at Cranebrook 18 May 20 Henry VI that this is the intention and last will of John [?Bereham] esquier of his lands and tenements. Firstly he wishes and assigns that John Frankelyn shall deliver those manors at *Derham, Doklonde and Frenglysham as soon as he can enfeoff the feoffees viz Sir John Pelham Knight, Wm. Tylthe and William Godard with the aforesaid John Frankeleyn in the foresaid manors with all commodities belonging which the said John Frankeleyn together with Thomas Horder and John Hoghgs sometime had of the gift and feoffment of Richard Derham* father of the foresaid John. 
Item he assigned that the said feoffees immediately after his death should permit Katherine his wife for the term of her life to receive all the reasonable profits of the manor of Saxingherst with rents, services, escheats, heriots and all similar things with a certain rent at Merden when it shall happen and all the lands and tenements at Wicum and a certain mesuage in the "ville" of Melkhous. And after the decease of the said Katherine the feoffees shall deliver to Henry his son and his heirs and assigns for ever if he shall live to be of age. The said feoffees shall permit the said Katherine his wife to take all the profits of the said manors of *Derham, Doklond and Fenglisham for xxij years to bring up and find his sons and daughters honestly in marriage and after the said years the feoffees shall permit the profits of the said manors to the end of the life of the said Katherine and then deliver to Henry his son the manor of Saxingherst with all commodities, to John his son the manor of Derham* and to Richard his son the Doklond and Fenglysham. 
If all his sons die then all profits to Katherine for her life and after her decease to remain to his daughters provided they pay out of his lands one hundred pounds to be disposed in alms (masses, poor persons, bad roads etc) for the soul of the said John his parents and friends. If all sons and daughters die then the manors of Doklond and Fenglysham to be sold and disposed in alms and the residue of his manors to remain to his right heirs for ever. Provided that the said John [?Bereham] wishes and requires that the said Thomas Horden and John Hoghgys shall release to the said John Frankeleyn all right and title that they have in the said manors of Derham, Dokland and Fenglysham so that they can deliver to his feoffees as is aforesaid. His feoffees to sell the lands and tenements at Wy with a messuage in the ‘ville’ of Melkhous and deliver the money to Katherine his wife, and they shall permit her to take the profits of all his woods for the repair of his manors that they be not davastated. (487b Chichele I).
* NOTE: The scribe appears to have written D for B in the place names)

Return to Book 23 Contents Page      Return to Lambeth Wills Index Page

Back to Wills Introduction   Back to Library and Visual Records   Back to Research         Back to Homepage

This site is hosted by Medway Internet      Kent Archaeological Society is a registered charity number 223382
© Kent Archaeological Society 2003     

This website is constructed by enthusiastic amateurs.  Any errors noticed by other researchers will be to gratefully received so
 that we can amend our pages to give an accurate record as possible. Please send details too research@kentarchaeology.org.uk